The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany --- 9 February 2014

{We had a light but lively turn-out at the service today. The continual snow kept folks away. So I went a head with the sermon, but instead of just talking, I asked for responses, like "What is salt used for? What are our sources of light?" It made it more fun that way.}

Matthew 5:13-20

13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?

• Jesus uses two very common items as metaphors in his preaching to his disciples. He says they are salt and light. When we listen to his preaching as it is put down in the Gospel, Jesus says to us that we are salt and light.
• So what is salt? What is it used for? How important is it?
• We've all been around salt all our lives. It's so common, we don't often think about it. We use it in quite a few ways. Some of us have been told to avoid it because of what it can do to our health, but do you realize what our lives would be like without it?
• We use salt to flavour our food and to preserve our food. We use it to melt the ice in our streets and driveways and to provide traction for our cars. Salt can be put in a wound; It will hurt like crazy but it will clean the wound as well, so it has a healing property about it. A friend of mine uses salt and ice cubes to clean the coffee pots at his restaurant.
• There is the simple fact that the human body cannot live without salt. Some of us need it less than others and some of us have difficulties with salt which can lead to high blood pressure and being watchful about how much salt we take in. Yet without salt, we would not maintain good health. You need it for your nerves, your muscles, and also to keep water in your cells.
• You are the salt of the earth
• Jesus also says You are the light of the world. So as we said before - What is light? What is it used for? How important is it?
• Light is what we use to see, whether it is the light of the sun, of a fire, of electric lights. Without light, we could not live. Even a blind person, who has learned to do so much without light needs light for those who help them get around. This is how we are built; the human eye is attracted to light even at great distances and light can be seen over great distances when the world is dark.
• All of us use light to see, to read, to move, to signal, and even to capture and use as power. Our bodies even need it to manufacture certain vitamins and some people suffer terribly because of shorter days and less sunlight in the seasons like winter.
• In Jesus' day, both salt and light were very valuable commodities. Salt was even used as money. Our word “salary” come from the root of the word for salt and in many places people were paid in salt since it was so valuable and negotiable. Light in Jesus' day was the light of the sun or small lamps or candles, neither of which were anywhere near as powerful as the light of the sun. Work could be done only when the sun shone. This was how it was up to the time when electric lights became more widespread.
• Now salt and light don't stand alone. Neither salt nor light exist for themselves. Both salt and light only serve their purpose when they are poured out. Salt by itself is a chemistry lesson. Light by itself can only be noticed if there is someone to see it.
• Jesus says we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. These sound like good things. But we aren't either for our own sakes. We aren't called to be Christians because it's a good thing and it's a great club to belong to. We're called to be light and salt for the world. Something to catch the eye, shining for all to see the grace of God in us... seasoning the world, preserving what is good, healing the wounds that life often brings, even giving traction when that is what is needed. We are most what we are called to be when we are poured out and used for what we are called to.
• Jesus goes on to say No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. This may sound silly, but we are made the light of the world in grace to be shown, that is, we are to show God's grace rather than ourselves. And we all know that the world is in constant need of God's grace. But grace is a funny thing. We can't see it or touch it or hear it as grace. The usual way we know it is when we experience it in those around us. The turn-about is true: the only way others know it would be when it is seen in us. To put it another way, we may be the only Gospel some people might see.
• In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.